Character Surfacing Supervisor

Job Description

Mikros Animation is a global CGI animation studio located in Paris, Montreal, Los Angeles, Bangalore and London, dedicated to feature films and episodic content. Since its inception, Mikros Animation has always put creativity and CG artistry at the heart of its animation and production activities, allowing our artists to work across a great variety of stories with a high level of stylized craft. So far, Mikros Animation has contributed to ten released feature animations and to numerous high-quality animated series, for the world's best-known animation studios, either as creative studio, line producer or executive producer.

At Mikros Animation, we believe great animation is about making real connections with real people. By partnering with filmmakers to unite their creative visions, with our industry-leading craftsmanship and artistry, we create characters that connect with audiences on an authentic and emotional level to bring powerful stories to life.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Prod Manager, Coordinator, VFX Sup, CG Sup Image and Characters team to ensure that all aspects of surfacing are ready to deliver quality content:

Production –
• Establish and create the look of the characters and the necessary presets to achieve the desired final look
• Lead and guide the team technically and artistically to establish a high-level quality of the deliverables
• Work with other Character departments to ensure that assets are consistent with the overall design of the characters in the film and that assets are ready for rendering
• Work in collaboration with the CG Supervisor, R&D and TD departments to define the texture and shading workflow in relation to the pipeline and the development of surfacing tools
• Responsible for helping to ensure the optimization and consistency of the workflow, tools, and resources of the Character surfacing department
• Provide creative ideas and solutions to optimize the level of visual and technical quality on the show
• Ensure that assets are completed in a timely manner and artistic notes addressed
• Responsible for retakes and their follow-up
• Prepare presentation elements for clients and submit assets for reviews
• View animatics and research references in preparation for work
• Anticipate, analyze, and find solutions to potential and actual technical problems

Management –
• Balance available resources according to project expectations, needs, and inventory
• Keep the CG Supervisor and Production Management informed of any issues related to staffing, resources, and deadlines
• Inform the team of any relevant changes and updates related to the project and communicate clear priorities in collaboration with the lead and production management
• Work with Production Management to set up bids and schedules for the film
• Partner with Production Management to ensure assets stay on schedule while also communicating potential delays and challenges
• Assign, oversee and qc the team's work in collaboration with the lead and production management
• Prepare guidelines and instructions to be followed by the character surfacing team
• Responsible for training the surfacing team to achieve and maintain the desired style and quality of the characters throughout production
• Lead internal department meetings and actively participate in larger team and client meetings
• Participate in cross-show studio meetings
• Assess and review the artist's performance
• Work with the Recruiters to evaluate, interview, and hire all character surfacing artists necessary to complete the show

Qualifications
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading a team of artists, preferably as a Lead or higher
• Minimum 4 years of surfacing experience in animated films or episodics
• Previous experience on animated feature film or project of equivalent quality
• Excellent knowledge of Autodesk Maya and Katana, Substance Painter or Mari
• Good knowledge of Arnold
• Experiences in texture creation and character shading in 3D animation projects
• Strong technical skills
• An aesthetic sense to produce high quality images that are true to the style of the film
• Thorough understanding of the techniques required to interpret designs and accurately match materials
• Excellent understanding of lighting, color, contrast, shade, shadow, and shading
• Good knowledge of the basic principles of 2D painting
• Ability to multitask and prioritize
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage a busy team while respecting production deadlines and budgets
• Provide constructive feedback that inspires and motivates your team to always achieve better direction and performance
• Ability to work as a team with excellent communication skills
• Bilingual (English and French)

Skills Preferred –
• Knowledge of Substance Designer is a plus
• Familiar with the color management issues of feature films is a plus
• Python or LUA scripting knowledge a plus

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-dy2y20-3-145-80-205-42 in your application.